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CNET
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for May 31
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles. Today's NYT Mini Crossword has a couple of fun ocean-related clues and answers. It's the extra-long Saturday version, of course. Need some help with today's Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips. The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET's NYT puzzle hints page. Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword Let's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for May 31, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNET Mini across clues and answers 1A clue: This one and that one Answer: BOTH 5A clue: Ballet-inspired fitness class Answer: BARRE 6A clue: Mississippi ___ (rich chocolate dessert) Answer: MUDPIE 7A clue: Sea creature with the scientific name Monodon monoceros ("one tooth, one horn") Answer: NARWHAL 8A clue: Like some soccer shots Answer: ONGOAL 9A clue: Strict in tone Answer: STERN 10A clue: Place for a "For Sale" sign Answer: YARD Mini down clues and answers 1D clue: $#!&, e.g. Answer: BADWORD 2D clue: Harry Potter, Annie or Bruce Wayne Answer: ORPHAN 3D clue: ___ and error Answer: TRIAL 4D clue: Dog trainer's "Walk next to me!" Answer: HEEL 5D clue: Hot dog alternative Answer: BURGER 6D clue: Relative of a stingray Answer: MANTA 7D clue: All up in one's business Answer: NOSY How to play more Mini Crosswords The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
CNET
4 hours ago
- Business
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Yes, Student Loan Payments Could Rise for SAVE Borrowers. Here's How to Calculate Yours
If you're enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education repayment plan, expect your student loan payments to increase. Getty Images/CNET If you're one of the eight million student loan borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, you may have seen student loan payments as low as $0. With the SAVE plan officially struck down, you might be worried about how much you'll be required to pay in the future. Although the Department of Education offers several other income-driven repayment plans, which cap your monthly bill at a percentage of your discretionary income, SAVE was the most affordable repayment plan to date. That means you should expect a higher monthly payment in the future. "The payment is likely going to go up for borrowers enrolled in SAVE," said Elaine Rubin, a student loan policy expert for Edvisors and CNET Money expert review board member. The earliest SAVE borrowers are expected to restart payments is December of this year, according to the Department of Education. However, many experts think the pause will last even longer, through mid-2026. While the forbearance remains in effect, here's how to calculate how much your monthly payment could increase. What are my payment options when SAVE ends? With SAVE off the table, you'll eventually need to switch to another repayment plan. You currently have three other options for income-driven repayment: Income-Based Repayment, Pay As You Earn and Income-Contingent Repayment. "Each plan has its own eligibility rules and repayment formula," says student loan lawyer Adam Minsky. "Many borrowers will have higher monthly payments under these plans compared to the SAVE plan." Alternatively, you could choose a plan that doesn't base payments on your income. These include the standard plan, graduated repayment and extended repayment. If you're enrolling in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness plan, you'll need to choose an income-driven repayment plan and not a standard plan. How much could my student loan payment increase? Most SAVE borrowers will see their payments increase on other payment plans, including IDRs. How much they might increase varies based on your income, household size and debt. To help you get an idea of how much your student loan payment might rise when the SAVE payment pause ends, I reviewed different options available for a single filer who makes $60,000 a year and has a $30,000 student loan balance at a 6.53% interest rate, using Federal Student Aid's Loan Simulator tool. Under SAVE, you would pay approximately $217 per month or less. Under other plans, you could see your payments rise from $70 to $370 per month. There are two situations where you could lower your monthly payment, but you'd be nearly doubling the amount you'd pay over the lifetime of your loan. Here's what it looks like. Income-Contingent Repayment The Income-Contingent Repayment plan sets your monthly payments to 20% of your discretionary income or what you'd pay on a fixed 12-year plan, whichever is less. Using the $30,000 loan example, here's what repayment would look like on ICR: Monthly payment: $290 Total to be paid: $43,919 End of term date: September 2037 If you qualify for PSLF, you'd pay $35,389 on this plan before getting your remaining balance of $7,884 forgiven in April 2035. Income-Based Repayment The Income-Based Repayment plan sets your monthly payments to 10% of your discretionary income if you borrowed loans after July 1, 2014. If you borrowed before that date, your payment would be set to 15%. This plan has a cap on payments — if your income increases, your payments will never be higher than what you'd pay on the standard 10-year plan. Here's what the payments on that $30,000 loan would look like on IBR: Monthly payment: $312 Total to be paid: $41,473 End of term date: August 2035 If you qualify for PSLF, you'd pay $40,259 on this plan before getting your remaining balance of $1,198 forgiven in April 2035. Pay As You Earn The Paye As You Earn plan sets your payments to 10% of your discretionary income. Like IBR, your payments on PAYE will never go higher than what they'd be on the standard plan. According to the loan simulator, your payments would be the same on PAYE as on IBR based on the $30,000 loan example. Monthly payment: $312 Total to be paid: $41,473 End of term date: August 2035 This is the last plan on this list that qualifies for PSLF. The forgiveness amount would be the same as the IBR plan. Standard Repayment The standard plan doesn't base your payments on your income. It gives you a fixed payment over 10 years. Monthly payment: $341 Total to be paid: $40,932 End of term date: April 2035 Graduated Repayment The graduated repayment plan has you pay off your loans over 10 years, too. However, payments start out lower and increase every couple of years. While your payment would start out lower, you'll see it jumps significantly over time. This plan is best for anyone starting out in a new career who expects to make significantly more money as they progress. Monthly payment: $196 - $589 Total to be paid: $43,916 End of term date: April 2035 Extended Repayment You can qualify for this plan if you owe at least $30,000. It has fixed payments and spans 25 years. You'd see a lower monthly payment with this plan, but since you're spreading out your payments over two and a half decades, you'll end up paying double the amount you borrowed. Monthly payment: $203 Total to be paid: $60,937 End of term date: April 2050 Note: The above payment options could change in the future. Republicans on the House Education Committee recently introduced a proposal that would eliminate many of the plans above for new borrowers and replace them with two options: a Standard Repayment Plan and a Repayment Assistance Plan. The standard plan would have fixed payments ranging from 10 to 25 years, while the Repayment Assistance Plan would base payments on a borrower's total adjusted gross income and waive monthly unpaid interest. Could I save money by refinancing with a private student loan? Refinancing a loan can be helpful for creditworthy borrowers who can qualify for a low interest rate -- but experts generally warn against refinancing if you have federal student debt. Rubin doesn't recommend refinancing if you're counting on federal student loan benefits, working toward PSLF, enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan or living paycheck-to-paycheck. For most borrowers who were enrolled in SAVE, refinancing with a private lender won't make sense. "Even if you're comfortably making payments, if something were to happen, you might find yourself locked into a very challenging situation," Rubin previously told CNET. When you refinance with a private lender, you're giving up your federal student loan benefits. That means you won't qualify for financial hardship assistance, federal payment pauses, federal loan forgiveness or similar benefits. Once you've refinanced with a private lender, you can't reverse the process. How to prepare for a higher student loan payment Borrowers in SAVE may not have owed any money on their student loans since March 2020 when the first federal forbearance period started. As SAVE makes its way through the courts, experts expect repayment to resume at the end of this year or sometime in 2026. Depending on your income and family size, that could mean fitting a sizable bill into your monthly budget. To prepare for that, Rubin recommends: Use the Department of Education's loan simulator to estimate the size of your monthly payment. Speak with a trusted, nonprofit source, such as Edvisors or The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, for advice on applying for and choosing the best repayment plan for your financial circumstances. Talk to a student loan advisor and an accountant about potential tax strategies to lower your adjusted gross income (used to calculate payments in some cases). Review your current finances to find places to cut or move costs (for instance, eliminating subscriptions, slowing other debt repayment or reducing your savings contributions).
CNET
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answer and Help for May 31 #454
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles. Todays NYT Strands puzzle could be easy if you spend a lot of time in hair salons, or fixing your own locks. If you need hints and answers, read on. I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET's NYT puzzle hints page. Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far Hint for today's Strands puzzle Today's Strands theme is: Next to the bobby pins. If that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Beauty helpers. Clue words to unlock in-game hints Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work: CRAB, CARE, CARES, STORE, TORE, TOES, SHIR, RACE, RACES. Answers for today's Strands puzzle These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers: CLIP, CLAW, BARRETTE, HEADBAND, SCRUNCHIE Today's Strands spangram The completed NYT Strands puzzle for May 31, 2025, #454. NYT/Screenshot by CNET Today's Strands spangram is HAIRACCESSORIES. To find it, start with the H that's four letters to the right on the top row, and wind down.
CNET
8 hours ago
- Business
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I Finally Found an Electric Screwdriver Kit for All My Home Projects, and It's 39% Off Right Now
No matter where I'm living, I inevitably end up needing to make some repairs, do basic maintenance or even build a piece of furniture here and there. But I've found that this doesn't always have to be a bad thing, and having the right tools can make a world of difference. Right now one of my favorite tools, the Hoto electric screwdriver, is available for 39% off at Amazon when you use the code SXUYKW46, dropping the price to just $39. One of my favorite things about this 3.6-volt screwdriver set is its capsule-like design. It's minimalist and compact, so it's easy for me to stow it away in a drawer. It comes with 12 2-inch S2 steel magnetic bits, making it a cinch for me to change for different projects. It weighs under a pound and provides three different torque stages and a high rotational speed of 220 rpm. It also has a circular LED lamp that automatically lights when in use and helps me aim when I'm dealing with dark spaces. Plus, this model charges using USB-C, which is highly convenient -- and a full charge can run more than 1,000 screws before it needs to refuel, which means I don't have to stop and recharge while I'm working on a project. The "screw-unscrew" buttons and the smart instant stop are both user-friendly features as well. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Electric models can save you a lot of time on home projects like putting together furniture or installing decor and are less physically demanding to use than their manual counterparts. I bought this screwdriver set three years ago and have used it to assemble rocking chairs and furniture, as well as changing out hardware on cabinets. I've enjoyed the convenience of having a set with multiple bits ready to go -- and the compact design also makes it easy to store. Whether you're buying it for yourself or as a graduation or Father's Day gift, this is a great option for any home. CNET's buying advice Occasionally investing in new tools is a good way to make projects around your home a little easier. This screwdriver set is convenient and I continue to love this tool even after years of use. It normally lists for $60, but this 39% discount slashes that price to just $39. Spring is a great time to get a jump on home improvement projects, and this would also make a nice gift for a graduate moving into their first apartment.
CNET
8 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
The Security Cam I Recommend to Anyone on a Budget Is 50% Off
As a longtime reviewer, I've tested a lot of security cameras over the years and no matter what brand or retailer you're looking at, one thing is always true: If you want a camera with premium features, it's going to cost you. Prices for just a single camera can easily run $200 or even more. When you're trying to put together a system with multiple cameras, the total price tag can get out of hand quickly. But the second-gen Arlo Essential 2K cam manages to buck that trend. Right now, it's marked down to just $50 on Amazon. That's a seriously impressive price for a camera that offers many of the same features of Arlo's highest-end models. If you're in the market for more than one security camera, the two-pack is currently discounted by 53%, slashing $100 off of its normal $190 price tag. Even better, Amazon recently updated pricing for more multipacks, and a three-pack of cameras is 48% off. That gives shoppers a lot of options for getting the setup they need at a big discount. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. What I like about the Arlo security camera While testing the Arlo Essential 2K Cam, I found the indoor-outdoor wireless camera performs well. The 2K resolution helps gather plenty of details, it's highly weather resistant and Arlo's app excels at walkthroughs on how to set up and use the cam. Other common features include two-way audio, color night vision and a built-in siren. Arlo isn't done yet. The cam's integrated spotlight did a great job of lighting up my backyard -- and if you prefer other smart home platforms, it plays well with Alexa and Google Home, as well as IFTTT (no Apple HomeKit support at this time, but it's a possibility). For more, here are CNET's picks for the best home security systems. Arlo wins at customization in the home security conversation I liked a lot of what the Arlo Essential does but it's not too different from what many other security cameras do -- just surprisingly affordable. I really like Arlo's UI and smart home integration too, with an app that's easy to understand and pop open for a quick look at your home when you're out on the town (and that doesn't even require a subscription). It's the deeper customization features that really impressed me. Those who like to tinker with their home security setup will love the beta-version custom detection options that come with higher-tier subscriptions, in addition to facial and vehicle recognition. I haven't seen custom setups like this on any other security camera before. In my tests, I was able to "teach" the cam AI to recognize when a pet toy appeared on camera or when certain objects were no longer present. I could also use this feature to tell me when the garage door opened or if something valuable (say, a piece of artwork) disappeared. Likewise, the vehicle detection options can tell if a specific vehicle is pulling up to your home. I've never seen anything else like this for those who really want to push their home security to the limits. Arlo's Essential cam is a great deal but keep in mind Arlo's subscription options. Arlo Arlo cams for yourself or others With Arlo's easy and informative setup process, the Essential camera is a great choice even if you or your family haven't tried a security camera before. As long as a user is comfortable trying out a new app and following the instructions, Arlo is an excellent experience. I rate the app and user-friendliness around Blink's level, another one of my favorite camera apps. With indoor/outdoor placement, the camera is also versatile so you don't have to worry about people not finding a place to use it. You could also spend a bit more to upgrade the camera with an extended battery and a solar panel, an effective combo if you want to avoid manually charging the battery as much as possible. It still needs a Wi-Fi connection but this combo is great for out-of-the-way spots like above my garage door or a high point on roof eaves. If you're thinking about getting this Arlo Essential camera as a gift, keep in mind Arlo locks quite a few important features behind its $8-plus monthly subscription, including smart alerts with object recognition and cloud video storage. So while the camera is usable without fees, there's a strong incentive to pay. Arlo does offer a free trial of its services but that could feel like a bait-and-switch to gift recipients who aren't expecting a security camera. If you want to give the cam as a gift, you may want to add some PayPal or Venmo cash to cover at least several months of a subscription. If you're on the hunt for other options, check out our full list of the best home security cameras of 2025.
